Chapter III - The Trip
~One week after Nao and Elenas acceptance to Ironwood for working with him~
~Atlas – Commercial District~
~Time - Dawn~
As Nao and Elena finish packing for the haul to their new home, they hear a sound of a group of cars parked right at the Dust shop. They notice that its from the government and are waiting for them. "So, you ready sis?" Nao asks as he is aware its the last time they are living at the shop. "I guess it could have been a little longer." Elena says, "But, it is a new life for us so it'll be better than the crime activity here. I will miss beating the crap out of other thiefs."
As they leave, they put the estate sign and see that Winter Schnee is waiting. "So, it seems that you've been the two Ironwood has wanted. Can't say I blame him." Winter says in a quiet voice. Nao says, "Well, it is something that could be extremely valuable of what my family has had." "And so it probably is," Winter says. "But you do need to get prepped and knowing your team." "Team?" Elena asks with a bit of uncertainty.
As they get in the car, the men with Winter put the bags in. But before Nao gets in the car, he notices something. It seemed like a cloaked figure to him but he was pushed in by Elena as the men closed the door. Winter says to Nao. "What were you trying to do? Look into space?" Nao responds with, "I just thought I saw someone, thats all." Winter then writes that down.
"So, yes. You two will be with a team as stated when you agreed with Ironwood." Winter says to both of them. "Oh, right;" Elena said. "It must have been my memory that was acting up." Nao asks to Winter, "How far is the trip from here to the new home?" Winter then just responds with. "About a hour and a half North-west from here. Its not exactly a place we want people to know," "Oh, alright." Elena says with a little shrug. "Hmm?" Winter looks at her. "What did you expect, a big city with dozens of urban night clubs?" Winter saying to her sarcastically. "Well, it would have been better than a damned fishing village." Nao looks at them both and starts to just sleep for the ride as Elena and Winter talk.
As Nao sleeps, Elena and Winter talk, "So, why did you want to be a huntress?" Winter asks. "Well, when my mother and father died, Nao was going to go after the one who killed our parents. He got in some trouble and I had to be with him when he bailed his way out...but something was off." Elena says with a bit of a cut-throat voice. "How do you mean by 'Off'?" Winter asks. "Well, he was using somethings by his father; a old version of the weapon he has now and from what it seems from when I bailed, he had a key." Elena says. "Was that for the room that the white fang stole?" Winter asked. Elena then responded with, "Yea, and from what it seemed from when I was younger, it was something more for him. I did get a version of what my mother used, as explosive as she was." Winter then said, "Well, i'm glad you two are continuing what your family did greatfully."
As they finish talking, they are approaching the new home. "Elena, mind waking up Nao?" Winter asks. "Alright." Elena answered. Elena then punched him in the stomach. "Ow, what the hell Elena?!" Winter then looked at both of them. "Was that a normal thing for you Elena?"Winter asked with a bit of uncertainty. Elena then responded with, "Well, whatevers normal for us." "Speaking of asking, Are we here?" Nao asks as he is now a little bit angry. As Winter points to them, they see the new home. It is a mansion, with from what it looks on the outside, small but noticable. "Theres your new home, Nao and Elena." Winter says as the cars start heading there at the mornings light.
They arrive at the new home and from Nao And Elenas perspective, the manor looks very large and very much imposing with a large forest behind it and in front of it. As they exit the cars, Winter informs them to enter as the men who were helping them would take the stuff to their room. As Nao and Elena enter, they notice the main welcoming room is very tall and very wide in space with a grand staircase. "Something feels..off about this Nao." Elena says. Nao is silent keeping a eyes and ears on the space when they hear a person grunting below the building. "Elena, you heard that?" Nao says quickly. "Yes, come on!" Elena says to Nao as they run down the stairs.
As if they assumed something was wrong; they rushed down to find that nothing was wrong besides the basement being a large training facility. They then look to find where it was to find a male that seems to be the age of Elena working out. "Umm.." Elena says, "Don't. Just don't." The male says. He then turns around to see Nao and Elena and is surprised. "Hmm? I thought that you were someone pretentious and older." The male says. "Don't be a dick. We just thought that someone was-" Nao says before being interuppted. "being harmed by someone? Trust me, if anything; I could handle myself." The male says. "Well, if you can handle yourself, can you handle telling us your name?" Nao asks. "Auro, Auro St. Petersmith. And you are?" Auro responds. "Nao," Nao responds and with; "And thats my sister, Elena." Auro looks at elena. "Well, if you want to meet your other teammate, shes at the gardens behind the manor." Auro says to them both. As he stares into Elenas eyes; Nao grabs her and they head off.
When they exited the basement, they encounter Winter informing them of the bags they packed are in their room, and Nao decides to think for a second. "Hey Elena, mind going to check the bags while me and Winter go to the gardens?" Elena isn't quite sure to say yes or no but Winter nods to her allowing it. "Yea, that's fine. Hey Winter?" Elena says. "Yes, Elena?" Winter says back her. "Mind telling me which room is it?" Winter lets her know that a butler will take her to her room as Nao and Winter start heading over to the gardens.
When they make it to the gardens, Winter asks. "So, hows Auro?" Nao responds with "He just feels like a stalker. Just weird for me, and i've seen some crap myself when I trained for a Hunter." Winter then thinks to herself about that as they go through the gardens. They then almost approach a gazebo where they find the other member. "You need any information before we talk to her?" Winter says. "A formal name for her would be nice." Nao then says. "Well, her name is Margro Hunt. In a manner of speaking, she was famous for a few things but I won't spoil that. She is a Cat Faunus though so keep that in mind." Nao then just takes note of that as they approach the gazebo. "Hey Margro." Winter says.
"Hey Winter." She looks to see that Winter was with Nao. "Whos that?" Margro asks. "I'm Nao, one of the members joining you." Nao responded as Margro looks at him. "Well, does he know Winter?" Margro asks. Winter then responds with, "No." Margro then looks at him. "Don't take this wrong but I was a Ex-Member of.." She shows her tatoo showing shes a member of the White Fang. The look on Naos face was a bit of worry and hate. "Well..I.." Nao trys to speak. He then asks to her, "So, what made you.." Margro then knows what he'd ask and then responds with, "I realized that the White Fang were corrupted. Something was extremely off about them, more-so when I left." Winter then sees that they both look a little tense. She then asks the both of them, "Should I leave you to yourselves?" Margro responds with. "It might be a good idea." Winter then leaves as Nao and Elena have a chat for themselves as the morning soon turns to the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Elena was packing her things as she was greeted by Ironwood. "Having trouble, Ms. Sin?" Elena then responds with, "Not at all. Just unpacking, and you can call me Elena; sir." Ironwood asks, "Mind if you need help? As it might be weird to be in a new home. And you don't need to call me sir." Elena then responds with, "Its fine." Elena finishes packing. "So, mind indulging me on how this will go?" Elena asks. Ironwood then thinks about that, "Well; you four will be having a huntsman watching over you as you investigate a few White Fang bases. That being said, me and Winter will be departing you four in a few days due to our roles." He then is reminded of something. "Oh yes, Elena. Since I have you we need to do a test, mind if you be the first for it?" Elena then thinks about it. "What test?"
Ironwood explains to Elena, "Theres a test that needs to be taken just due to some of our recent discoveries within fighting against the White Fang." They walk down to the training room in the basement as they keep talking. Elena asks with on the way down, "What does the test entail?" Ironwood then responded with; "You'll find out for yourself. You will have a starter weapon just for the sake of the test but be careful of yourself." They arrive down at the training room as Auro is watching them. "You ready, Mrs. Sin?" Ironwood says. Auro says to them both, "Maker be with her, as whats in there is as mysterious to me, the reason you picked us all to work together." Ironwood and Elena both ignore as Elena heads into the test without Nao knowing as the day settles.
~To Be continued in Chapter IV: Bloodline~